What is Podcast?
A podcast is a digital audio program distributed via the internet using RSS feeds, allowing listeners to subscribe and automatically receive new episodes on their preferred devices and apps.
What Makes Something a Podcast?
Unlike traditional radio or streaming music, podcasts have distinct characteristics:
- On-demand listening: Episodes are available anytime, not broadcast at scheduled times
- Subscription-based: Listeners subscribe once and receive all future episodes automatically
- RSS distribution: Content is syndicated through RSS feeds, enabling platform independence
- Episodic format: Content is organized into discrete episodes, often as part of a series
How Podcasts Work
The podcast ecosystem operates through a simple but powerful workflow:
- Creation: A podcaster records and edits audio content
- Hosting: The audio file is uploaded to a podcast hosting service
- RSS Feed: The host generates an RSS feed containing episode metadata and audio links
- Distribution: Podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify index the feed
- Consumption: Listeners use podcast apps to subscribe and download episodes
Types of Podcasts
Podcasts come in many formats:
| Format | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | Host conversations with guests | Joe Rogan Experience |
| Solo/Monologue | Single host presenting content | Dan Carlin's Hardcore History |
| Co-hosted | Multiple regular hosts discussing topics | My Favorite Murder |
| Narrative | Scripted storytelling with production | Serial |
| Educational | Teaching specific skills or knowledge | Grammar Girl |
| News/Commentary | Current events analysis | The Daily |
Podcast vs. Other Audio Content
| Feature | Podcast | Radio | Audiobook | Music Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On-demand | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Episodic | Yes | Sometimes | No | No |
| RSS-based | Yes | No | No | No |
| Free to access | Usually | Yes | Usually paid | Freemium |
| Subscribable | Yes | No | No | Playlists only |
Brief History of Podcasting
- 2004: The term "podcast" coined (iPod + broadcast)
- 2005: Apple adds podcast support to iTunes
- 2014: "Serial" brings podcasting mainstream
- 2019: Spotify enters podcasting aggressively
- 2020s: Podcast 2.0 introduces new features like chapters and transcripts
Why It Matters
Understanding what a podcast actually is—and isn't—helps you create content that leverages the medium's unique strengths.
Why the podcast format matters:
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Intimate connection: Audio creates a personal relationship between host and listener that video and text struggle to match.
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Multitasking-friendly: Listeners consume podcasts while commuting, exercising, or doing chores—times when other media can't compete.
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Low barrier to entry: Unlike TV or radio, anyone can start a podcast with minimal equipment and zero gatekeepers.
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Ownership and independence: Because podcasts use open RSS technology, creators own their audience relationship and aren't subject to algorithm changes.
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Evergreen discoverability: Unlike social media posts that disappear in feeds, podcast episodes remain discoverable and valuable for years.
The open ecosystem advantage:
Podcasting's RSS foundation means your content isn't locked into any single platform. A listener can use any podcast app they prefer—Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or dozens of others—and still access your show. This open ecosystem is what makes podcasting unique in today's walled-garden internet.